Immigration

Lord Boateng: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many civil servants or other employees of the immigration authorities have been deployed in each of the past five years in securing the voluntary or involuntary return of illegal immigrants; and what plans they have to increase that number.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: It is not possible to break down the Immigration Enforcement Directorate's workforce as requested. Furthermore, this work was previously undertaken by the UK Border Agency until 31st March 2013 and many staff in the Home Office and wider Government contribute to this work.
	It is not possible to differentiate between staff involved in voluntary or involuntary returns because individuals can opt to return voluntarily at any point in the process and officials work across both types of removal.
	However as at 30th June 2013 the Immigration Enforcement Directorate had a total of 4,150 paid Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff.
	The Immigration Enforcement Directorate is currently recruiting frontline posts to secure the removal of immigration offenders. This includes the recruitment of additional enforcement officers who will receive arrest training. Over the course of the year Immigration Enforcement will have recruited over 400 new Arrest Trained officers and converted 150 posts from non-arrest trained to Arrest Trained posts, doubling the arrest capacity available.
	Notes: Full Time Equivalent means that part timers are counted by the proportion of full time hours they work, so that a part timer working half the time of an equivalent full timer would count as 0.5 FTE.

Internet: Site Closures

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many websites they have compelled internet service providers to close down in the last 12 months for reasons of (1) illegal content, (2) immoral content, and (3) supporting security threats.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The UK has a clear process by which criminal images of child sexual abuse can be reported and for websites containing such
	images either to be removed completely or to be blocked by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). In 2012 action by the Internet Watch Foundation led to the removal of approximately 9,550 child sexual abuse web pages worldwide.
	A dedicated police unit, the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) can compel ISPs or social network sites to remove illegal extremist and radicalising material. In practice providers co-operate willingly and CTIRU have never served any ISPs with a formal notice and take-down request under Section three of Terrorism Act (2006).
	Since the CTIRU was established in February 2010, approximately 6,500 pieces of online content have been removed to date through CTIRU action. Figures for April 2012 to March 2013 stand at 3,538 pieces of online content removed.

Visas

Lord Kilclooney: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the proposed common tourist visa will be between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland or between Great Britain and Ireland.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Subject to appropriate safeguards, the UK Government will look to pilot a scheme in the future, permitting visitors from some destinations to enter the United Kingdom from the Republic of Ireland using an Irish visit visa, without the need for a separate UK visa.

Xenophobia and Racism

Baroness Quin: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they have decided to opt out permanently from the European Union’s Justice and Home Affairs measure on xenophobia and racism.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: On 23 July 2013, the House of Lords agreed a Government motion that the UK should opt out of all European Union police and criminal justice measures adopted before December 2009 and endorsed Command Paper 8671, which sets out those 35 measures the Government believes it is in the national interest to rejoin. Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA of 28 November 2008 on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law is not included in this set of measures. However, the final list of measures the UK will formally seek to rejoin is subject to negotiation with other Member States and the EU Institutions.
	The UK already has strong laws in place to combat and punish racism and xenophobia. In the Home Secretary's view, it should, in general, be for the UK Parliament and courts to set and interpret matters of substantive criminal law, and not for the European Court of Justice.

Armed Forces: Hearing Impairment

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many former members of the Armed Forces are in receipt of awards in respect of occupational deafness caused during their service.

Lord Astor of Hever: Ninety ex-Service personnel had been awarded compensation under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for deafness or hearing loss that was caused by Service between 6 April 2005 and 31 March 2013 (the latest date for which Armed Forces Compensation Scheme data is available).
	As at 31 March 2013 (the latest date for which War Pensions Scheme data is available) a total of 76,965 ex- Service personnel are recorded as having deafness or hearing loss accepted as being caused by Service prior to 6 April 2005. It is not possible to identify those individuals who have received a financial award from those who have not. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Reserve Forces

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many personnel have been recruited to the British Army Reservist Recruiting Scheme under the new Defence Strategy in the first quarter of 2013-14.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of the current year recruitment target for British Army Reservists has been met.

Lord Astor of Hever: The Army’s structure is changing to meet the requirements set out under Army 2020. Its manning is in a period of transition and its strength reflects the planned drawdown. Immediate measures have been put in place to deliver a step change in Army Reserve recruiting.
	It will take time to accurately measure the growth in Reserve Forces following the announcement of 3 July 2013 (Official Report, column 932) but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Philip Hammond) has said the Government remains committed to keeping the House updated through the publication of both recruitment figures and trained strength figures as the Army Reserve moves forward.

Armed Forces: Reserve Forces

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of trained British Army Reservists who have been deployed on operational tours in Afghanistan remain in service a year after such deployment.

Lord Astor of Hever: The percentage of Territorial Army personnel who have been deployed on operational tours in Afghanistan, and who were still serving in the Territorial Army a year after their deployment, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Deployed between Percentage still serving on 
			 1 April 2010 — 31 March 2011 1 April 2012 91.6% 
			 1 April 2011 — 31 March 2012 1 April 2013 93.9%

Burma

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports of the burning of Muslim homes in Sagaing, Burma.

Baroness Warsi: We remain seriously concerned about the continuing trend of violence against Muslims across Burma following the burning of Muslim homes and shops in Sagaing Division on 24 August. We welcome the swift action taken by the Burmese police to arrest those accused of involvement in the 24 August attacks, and continue to call on the Burmese Government to ensure accountability in line with due legal process.
	During the Burmese President’s visit to the UK in July, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) pressed for further accountability for those involved in acts of violence against Muslims in Burma. We continue to raise our concerns with the Burmese Government about the need to tackle the root causes of the ongoing violence. We are also examining how we might provide support to develop capacity in the police force to tackle these types of incidents in line with international standards and are funding efforts to bring communities together through interfaith dialogue.

Burma

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that attacks on Muslims in Sagaing in Burma were instigated by Shin Wirathu and the nationalist organisation 969.

Baroness Warsi: On the evening of 24 August in the village of Htan Gone in northern Sagaing Division, a group of around 1,000 local people burned 44 Muslim homes and several Muslim-owned shops following the arrest of a man accused of rape.
	We have received unconfirmed reports that there was dissemination of 969-related campaign materials in the area in the preceding weeks, but we have received no direct information that the 24 August violence was instigated by Shin Wirathu or 969-affiliated organisations.

Critical National Infrastructure: Ownership

Lord Whitty: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 22 July (HL Deb, col 1045), what is their estimate of the breakdown of ownership by country of the major electricity supply companies in the United Kingdom, as of the most recent figures available.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 22 July (HL Deb, col 1045), what is their estimate of the breakdown of ownership by country of the major gas supply companies in the United Kingdom, as of the most recent figures available.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 22 July (HL Deb, col 1045), what is their estimate of the breakdown of ownership by country of the major water companies in the United Kingdom, as of the most recent figures available.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 22 July (HL Deb, col 1045), what is their estimate of the breakdown of ownership by country of the major railway operators in the United Kingdom, as of the most recent figures available.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 22 July (HL Deb, col 1045), what is their estimate of the breakdown of ownership by country of the major companies in the ports sector in the United Kingdom, as of the most recent figures available.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 22 July (HL Deb, col 1045), what is their estimate of the breakdown of ownership by country of the major airlines in the United Kingdom, as of the most recent figures available.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 22 July (HL Deb, col 1045), what is their estimate of the breakdown of ownership by country of the major telecommunications companies in the United Kingdom, as of the most recent figures available.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, Director General for ONS, to Lord Whitty, dated September 2013.
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions concerning the breakdown of ownership by country of the major electricity supply companies [HL2126], major gas supply companies [HL21271, major water companies [HL2128], major
	railway operators [HL2129], major companies in the ports sector [HL2130], major airlines [HL2131] and major telecommunication companies [HL2201] in the United Kingdom, as of the most recent figures available.
	The attached spreadsheet shows a breakdown of ownership by country of the following Standard Industrial Classifications (SICs):
	SIC Code SIC Description
	35.1 Electric power generation, transmission and distribution
	35.2 Manufacture of gas: distribution of gaseous fuels through mains
	36 Water collection, treatment and supply
	49.1 & 49.2 Passenger rail transport and freight rail transport
	52.22 Service activities incidental to water transportation
	51.1 Passenger air transport
	61 Telecommunications
	The link below provides further information on the UK Standard Industrial Classification 2007: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/classifications/current-standard-classifications/standard-industrial-classification/index.html
	These data have been produced using an extract from the Inter Departmental Business Register (IDBR) taken at March 2012.
	For the purposes of this response, “major” has been defined as enterprises with an employment figure of 250 or more. Also, in order to protect the confidentiality of businesses, the geographic breakdown has been grouped into three categories: United Kingdom, Europe and Rest of the World.
	Count of major enterprises in specified industries broken down by country of ownership
	
		
			 SIC 35.1 - Electric power generation, transmission and distribution 
			 Country of ownership Count of enterprises 
			 UK 8 
			 Europe 7 
			 Rest of the World 3 
			 Total 18 
		
	
	
		
			 SIC 35.2 - Manufacture of gas; distribution of gaseous fuels through mains 
			 Country of ownership Count of enterprises 
			 UK 4 
			 Total 13 
		
	
	
		
			 SIC 36 - Water collection, treatment and supply 
			 Country of ownership Count of enterprises 
			 UK 6 
			 Europe 4 
			 Rest of the World 3 
			 Total 13 
		
	
	
		
			 SIC 49.1 and 49.2 - Passenger rail transport and freight rail transport 
			 Country of ownership Count of enterprises 
			 UK 14 
			 Europe 6 
			 Rest of the World 1 
			 Total 21 
		
	
	
		
			 SIC 52.22 - Service activities incidental to water transportation 
			 Country of ownership Count of enterprises 
			 UK 10 
			 Europe 4 
			 Rest of the World 3 
			 Total 17 
		
	
	
		
			 SIC 51.1 - Passenger air transport 
			 Country of ownership Count of enterprises 
			 UK 7 
			 Europe 7 
			 Rest of the World 7 
			 Total 21 
		
	
	
		
			 SIC61 - Telecommunications 
			 Country of ownership Count of enterprises 
			 UK 29 
			 Europe 8 
			 Rest of the World 11 
			 Total 48 
		
	
	Footnotes:
	These data have been produced using an extract from the Inter Departmental Business Register (IDI3R) taken at March 2012.
	In order to protect confidentiality the count of enterprises has been grouped into three categories: United Kingdom, Europe and Rest of the World.
	Major has been defined as enterprises with an employment figure of 250 or more.
	The link below provides further information on the UK Standard Industrial Classification 2007:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/classifications/current-standard-classifications/standard-industrial-classification/index.html
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Domestic Violence: Police

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the way in which the police handle domestic violence cases; and whether that assessment takes into account the costs associated with the training the police receive and the support they provide.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: It is important that the public has confidence in the way the police respond to domestic violence and abuse. That is why, on 6 September, my Rt Hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced in a Written Ministerial Statement that
	Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) will conduct a thematic review on the police response to domestic violence and abuse, with the findings published by March 2014.

Egypt

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the number of Coptic Christians leaving Egypt since 2010.

Baroness Warsi: We are aware of increased reports of Coptic Christians seeking to leave Egypt. We are concerned about the recent increase in sectarian incidents. In my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary’s statement of 20 August he condemned the increase in violence and the attacks on churches and repeated his concern in response to an oral question in the other place on 3rd September. We continue to encourage the Egyptian authorities to tackle this issue.

EU/EFTA: Benefit Entitlements

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they take steps to inform nationals of European Union or European Free Trade Agreement member states currently residing in the United Kingdom of benefits from their own or another country to which they or their family members are entitled; whether they provide assistance in accessing such benefits; and, if so, what steps they take and what assistance they provide.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they take steps to inform nationals of non-European Union or European Free Trade Agreement countries currently residing legally in the United Kingdom of benefits to which they or their family members are entitled from other countries within the European Union or European Free Trade Agreement in which they have previously resided; whether they provide assistance in accessing such benefits; and, if so, what steps they take and what assistance they provide.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they take steps to inform stateless persons or refugees currently residing in the United Kingdom of benefits to which they or their family members are entitled from other European Union or European Free Trade Agreement countries in which they had previously resided; whether they provide assistance in accessing such benefits; and, if so, what steps they take and what assistance they provide.

Lord Freud: Under the provisions of Regulations EU 883/04 and EU 987/09, when a person makes a claim for benefit, and informs us that
	they have a period of residence, work or insurance in another European Union or European Free Trade Agreement country, we have a range of systems in place through the EU system of social security co-ordination to assess whether that person’s benefits are the responsibility of the United Kingdom or another country. Information is passed between the relevant countries to complete that assessment, and when a decision is made, the benefit claim may be paid in the UK if that is appropriate; or referred to the relevant Member State for further action.
	If there are complex circumstances involved, we can provide ongoing liaison and assistance with the person to ensure these are addressed. In addition, there is an EU-wide network to resolve disputes involving single market legislation, known as Solvit, which can provide further assistance to persons making a claim.
	The Government do not provide comprehensive advice on benefits in other countries because of the complexity and individuality of each country’s system, but can refer people to useful sources of information, notably the European Commission’s website which provides specialised information on social security co-ordination and rights in each Member State.

EU: Social Security Regulations

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made representations to the European Union about the co-ordination of social security regulations to assist those moving between European Union member states; if so, what representations they have made; and, if not, whether they plan to do so.

Lord Freud: Ministers and officials are in regular dialogue with the European Commission and other Member States about the co-ordination of social security in the European Union.
	Last year Ministers, with colleagues from twelve other Member States, called for a high level political dialogue in the Employment and Social Affairs Council on the future sustainability of social security coordination in the EU. The Government subsequently hosted a Ministerial conference to continue discussions, and since then through a series of meetings has continued to work with Member States to press for reform to the co-ordination regulations to ensure a balance between fairness for migrants and an obligation to contribute to their host country.
	At a technical level, the United Kingdom participates in the quarterly meetings of the Administrative Commission on the Co-ordination of Social Security Systems, which deals with administrative questions and questions of interpretation arising from the provisions contained in EU Regulation on social security co- ordination (883/04). In those meetings the UK delegation works with other Member States and the European Commission to ensure clarity and consistency of interpretation of the rules, and effective application across the European Union.

Finance: High Frequency Traders and Algorithmic Traders

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have reviewed the activities of high frequency traders and other algorithmic traders and their impact on the integrity of markets and financial stability.

Lord Deighton: The findings of the Foresight project “The Future of Computer Trading in Financial Markets”1 led by the Government Office for Science and sponsored by the Treasury, was published in autumn 2012. This independent and international study involved 150 leading experts and considered, inter alia, the impact of computer trading on the integrity of markets and financial stability.
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/foresight/our-work/projects/ published-projects/computer-trading

Government Departments: Data

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what changes they have made to the reporting of data at the Department of Health since May 2010.

Earl Howe: In line with the Government’s policy to increase the openness and transparency of Government and public bodies, as set out in the Open Data White Paper Unleashing the Potential (June 2012), the Department has started to release significant amounts of data underpinning reports, and in re-usable formats. The Department’s overall approach to open data and transparency was set out in our Open Data strategy, published as annex B to the information strategy, The Power of Information: Putting All of Us in Control of the Health and Care Information We Need (May 2012). A copy has been placed in the Library. This includes a requirement for the Health and Social Care Information Centre to publish (in safe, de-identifiable format) virtually all of the data it is required to collect across the health and care sector.

Immigration

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they intend to ensure that the immigration document checks which are the subject of recent consultations and proposed to be included in the forthcoming Immigration Bill do not result in unlawful discrimination; and whether they intend to issue a code of practice for primary healthcare providers and for private landlords in carrying out those checks.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The Government share the desire to ensure that measures in the forthcoming Immigration Bill do not result in unlawful discrimination. The consultations on these proposals have now closed and we are considering the responses received. Full consultation reports and impact assessments will be published in due course.

Immigration

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total cost of operating the Home Office Employer Checking Service in 2012 or for the most recent 12-month period for which they have details.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: It is estimated the total staff cost involved in the Employer Checking Service (ECS) was £357,000 in 2012-13.
	ECS however does not have staff dedicated solely to the service. Staff working on ECS multi-task and perform other duties in the Contact Centre network alongside this function. We are therefore unable to provide a cost specifically for the ECS service in isolation.

Immigration: Dependent Relatives

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many decisions were made in relation to applications for entry clearance and extension of stay for adult elderly dependants during the year commencing 9 July 2012; and of those applications how many were (1) successful, (2) unsuccessful, (3) withdrawn and (4) lapsed.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Adult dependent relatives who wish to join a settled person or a British citizen and who meet the immigration rules qualify for immediate settlement and do not require an extension. Following rule changes in July 2012, this route is now only accessible to applicants applying from outside the UK. The latest published figures for 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013 on entry clearance applications from dependants (other than children or partners of those who were settled in the UK or British citizens) are given in the table below.
	
		
			 Decisions on entry clearance visa applications from outside the UK providing immediate settlement (indefinite leave) to dependants (other than children or partners of those who were settled in the UK or British Citizens) 
			 Quarter Resolved of which 
			   Issued Refused Withdrawn Lapsed 
			 2012 Q3 (July to September) 676 400 264 5 7 
			 2012 Q4 (October to December) 674 277 396 0 1 
		
	
	
		
			 2013 Q1 (January to March) 576 221 350 3 2 
			 2013 Q2 (April to June) 509 212 292 3 2 
		
	
	Decisions (resolutions) may relate to applications made in earlier quarters, and may include decisions based on rules in place before 9 July 2012.
	Source:
	Table be_01_q, Family route: Other (for settlement), Immigration Statistics April-June 2013
	The published statistics do not separately identify how many of these decisions relate to elderly dependent relatives. It is also not possible to separately identify decisions on application made under the family Immigration Rules implemented on 9 July 2012.
	The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on entry clearance applications within the Immigration Statistics release. A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics April-June 2013, is available from the Library of the House and from https://www. gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.

Immigration: Detention

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the effectiveness of detaining pregnant women, and (2) the views on that matter of the organisations which signed Asylum Aid’s Charter of Rights of Women Seeking Asylum.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Detention is a vital and effective tool in supporting the enforced return of persons with no lawful basis of stay in the UK who choose not to leave voluntarily. This applies equally to pregnant women.
	Pregnant women are detained only in limited circumstances, where their removal is imminent and medical advice does not suggest their confinement before the due removal date. Pregnant women who are less than 24 weeks’ pregnant may also be detained in the asylum Detained Fast Track process.
	The recommendation in the Charter of Rights of Women Seeking Asylum that women who are at any stage of pregnancy or who are breastfeeding should not be detained was not accepted. That remains our position.

Immigration: Non-EEA Partner Applications

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many decisions were made in relation to non-European Economic Area partner applications from within the United Kingdom for entry clearance and for extension of stay during the year commencing 9 July 2012; and of those applications how many were (1) successful, (2) unsuccessful, (3) withdrawn and (4) lapsed.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Information is published on entry clearance decisions (issued, refused, withdrawn and lapsed) and grants and refusals of an extension of stay.
	The latest published figures for 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013 relating to non-European Economic Area national partners in the family route are given in the tables below.
	
		
			 Table 1: Entry clearance visa applications and resolution by category Applicant 
			 Quarter Applicant type Category Issued Refused Withdrawn Lapsed 
			 2012  Q3 All Family: Partner 7,626 2,215 51 22 
			 2012  Q3 All Family: Partner (for immediate settlement) 241 35 4 2 
			 2012  Q4 All Family: Partner 6,780 5,008 46 15 
			 2012  Q4 All Family: Partner (for immediate settlement) 232 75 0 2 
			 2013  Q1 All Family: Partner 4,862 3,522 48 8 
			 2013  Q1 All Family: Partner (for immediate settlement) 362 86 2 0 
			 2013  Q2 All Family: Partner 5,274 3,097 37 5 
			 2013  Q2 All Family: Partner (for immediate settlement) 151 68 1 0 
		
	
	Decisions (resolutions) may relate to applications made in earlier quarters, and may include decisions based on rules in place before 9 July 2012.
	Source:
	Immigration Statistics, April-June 2013, table be_01_q
	
		
			 Table 2: Decisions on applications for an extension of stay by category 
			 Quarter Applicant type Category Decisions Grants Refusals 
			 2012  Q3 Main applicant Spouse (probationary period applications) 2,733 2,416 317 
			 2012  Q3 Main applicant Family Life (10 year route) 810 728 82 
		
	
	
		
			 2012  Q4 Main applicant Spouse (probationary period applications) 4,514 3,731 783 
			 2012  Q4 Main applicant Family Life (10 year route) 1,571 1,471 100 
			 2013  Q1 Main applicant Spouse (probationary period applications) 11,896 9,027 2,869 
			 2013  Q1 Main applicant Family Life (10 year route) 2,610 2,501 109 
			 2013  Q2 Main applicant Spouse (probationary period applications) 5,811 4,282 1,529 
			 2013  Q2 Main applicant Family Life (10 year route) 5,041 3,757 1,284 
		
	
	Includes civil partners and unmarried partners.
	Family Life (10 year route) relates to partners and parents who cannot satisfy the requirements for the 5 years family route but who are seeking to remain in the UK on the basis of their right to respect for family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
	May include decisions based on rules in place before 9 July 2012.
	Source:
	Immigration Statistics, April-June 2013, table ex_01_q
	It is not possible to separately identify decisions on applications made under the family Immigration Rules implemented on 9 July 2012.
	The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on entry clearance and extension of stay decisions within the Immigration Statistics release. A copy of the latest release, Immigration Statistics April-June 2013, is available from the Library of the House and from https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/ immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.

Immigration: Non-EEA Partners

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the impact on the time taken to process cases as a result of the current suspension of decision-making on non-European Economic Area spouse or partner and child settlement visa and leave to remain applications.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Non-EEA spouse or partner and child settlement visa and leave to remain applications have been put on hold since the 5 July 2013 High Court judgment in MM & Others, where the only grounds on which the application falls to be refused are the applicant's failure to meet the income threshold (under Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules or the related evidential requirements under Appendix FM-SE). The Home Office is appealing
	against the judgment and such applications will remain on hold until the legal challenge has been finally determined by the Courts. The Court of Appeal has agreed to the Home Office’s request for expedition, but it is a matter for the Court how quickly the appeal is considered.

Immigration: Non-EEA Visas

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to process any backlog of non-European Economic Area spouse or partner and child settlement visa and leave to remain applications for which decision-making is currently suspended; and whether additional resources will be made available to meet any backlog.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Once the legal challenge, in MM & Others, to the income threshold under Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules has been finally determined by the Courts, the Home Office will determine, according to the outcome of those cases, how best to conclude those non-EEA spouse or partner and child settlement visa and leave to remain applications, which have been put on hold since the 5 July 2013 High Court judgment. In the mean time, an applicant whose case has been put on hold can withdraw their application and submit a fresh application if, by virtue of a change in circumstances, they can now meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules, including the income threshold under Appendix FM.

Immigration: Student Immigration Checks

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 24 July (WA 206–7), what assessment they have made or intend to make of their plans to require landlords to conduct immigration checks on tenants, in the case of (1) European Union students, and (2) non-European Union students, awaiting a decision from the Home Office with regard to their leave to remain in the United Kingdom at the time of agreeing or renewing a tenancy agreement (or equivalent).

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Home Office officials have engaged with a range of organisations that represent students during consultation on proposals to prevent illegal migrants obtaining privately rented accommodation. The consultation closed on 21 August 2013, and we are currently reviewing responses. A full consultation report and impact assessment will be published in due course.

Medical Justice Report: Detention Centres

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the recent report from Medical Justice Expecting Change; and whether they have received representations from NHS trusts in the areas where detention centres exist.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what response they have made to the responses of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives to the recent report from Medical Justice Expecting Change.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether pregnant asylum applicants are always treated as complex cases for maternity care.

Earl Howe: We have not responded formally to the Medical Justice report and have no plans to do so. Home Office Immigration Enforcement, which manages the immigration detention estate, would be happy to engage direct with the two Royal Colleges that expressed concern about issues raised in the report.
	Asylum seekers, refused asylum seekers who are receiving support from the Home Office, and victims of human trafficking can access and are fully entitled to the National Health Service without charge.
	The maternity care provided to those women by NHS midwives is covered by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines on complex pregnancies and should be the same high standard we expect all pregnant women to receive and this should include the high quality handovers of care between maternity services when women move from one area to another. This supports women receiving personalised maternity care which includes having a named midwife who is responsible for the majority of her care and continuity of care when that midwife is unavailable.
	From 2013-14, the Department will also be introducing a maternity and children dataset which will provide details of the number of women who are asylum seekers and refugees receiving maternity care and will provide outcome data for mothers and babies to support commissioning and provision of care.

NHS: Consultants

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the numbers, broken down by country of origin including European Union member states, of overseas-qualified doctors who are currently working as NHS consultants.

Earl Howe: The numbers, broken down by country of origin including European Union members states, of overseas qualified doctors who are currently working as National Health Service consultants in
	England are not collected centrally. The annual workforce census published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre does show data on the country of qualification of overseas doctors.
	The following table shows the number of consultants in England, by headcount and full-time equivalent, broken down to those who qualified within the United Kingdom, those who qualified within the remainder of the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes European Union member states, and those who qualified in countries outside the EEA.
	Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS): medical1 consultants by individual country of qualification
	
		
			 England at 30 September 2012 
			   headcount full-time equivalent 
			 All Countries of Qualification  39,613 37,510 
			 
			 of which
			 
			 Qualified in United Kingdom 26,201 24,470 
			 
			 Qualified in other EEA Country 2,846 2,725 
			  Austria 18 16 
			  Belgium 44 43 
			  Bulgaria 31 29 
			  Czech Republic 71 70 
			  Denmark 17 16 
			  Estonia 6 6 
			  Finland 8 8 
			  France 54 49 
			  Germany 506 487 
			  Greece 189 179 
			  Hungary 102 97 
			  Iceland 7 6 
			  Irish Republic 848 810 
			  Italy 238 228 
			  Latvia 8 8 
			  Lithuania 21 21 
			  Malta 71 70 
			  Netherlands 80 78 
			  Norway 2 2 
			  Poland 186 183 
			  Portugal 13 12 
			  Romania 61 58 
			  Slovakia 18 18 
			  Slovenia 3 3 
			  Spain 205 192 
			  Sweden 22 20 
			  Switzerland 17 17 
			 
			 Qualified outside EEA 10,362 10,153 
			  Afghanistan 4 4 
			  Albania 2 2 
			  Algeria 4 4 
		
	
	
		
			  Argentina 28 28 
			  Australia 246 228 
			  Azerbaijan 1 1 
			  Bangladesh 50 49 
			  Belarus 6 6 
			  Bosnia & Herzegovina 12 12 
			  Brazil 19 18 
			  Burma (now Myanmar) 73 71 
			  Cameroon 4 4 
			  Canada 17 16 
			  Chile 7 7 
			  China 14 14 
			  Colombia 23 22 
			  Croatia 8 8 
			  Cuba 1 1 
			  Dominica 1 1 
			  Ecuador 1 1 
			  Egypt 556 547 
			  Ethiopia 11 11 
			  Georgia 2 2 
			  Ghana 75 75 
			  Hong Kong 8 8 
			  India 5,122 5,047 
			  Iran 65 63 
			  Iraq 408 399 
			  Israel 8 6 
			  Japan 4 4 
			  Jordan 16 16 
			  Kenya 16 16 
			  Korea South 1 1 
			  Kuwait 2 2 
			  Kyrgyzstan 1 1 
			  Lebanon 8 8 
			  Libya 117 116 
			  Macedonia 4 4 
			  Malawi 8 8 
			  Malaysia 22 22 
			  Mexico 3 3 
			  Montserrat 2 2 
			  Morocco 1 1 
			  Nepal 4 4 
			  New Zealand 90 88 
			  Nigeria 576 567 
			  Oman 1 1 
			  Pakistan 904 896 
			  Panama 1 1 
			  Papua New Guinea 1 1 
			  Paraguay 1 1 
			  Philippines 5 5 
			  Rhodesia/Zimbabwe 73 72 
			  Russia 60 57 
			  Saudi Arabia 2 2 
		
	
	
		
			  Serbia and Montenegro 40 39 
			  Sierra Leone 3 3 
			  Singapore 20 20 
			  Somalia 1 1 
			  South Africa 765 730 
			  Sri Lanka 353 337 
			  Sudan 109 108 
			  Syria 96 95 
			  Taiwan 1 1 
			  Tajikistan 2 2 
			  Tanzania 9 9 
			  Thailand 2 2 
			  Tunisia 4 4 
			  Turkey 23 22 
			  Uganda 14 13 
			  Ukraine 22 22 
			  United Arab Emirates 1 1 
			  Uruguay 1 1 
			  USA 28 26 
			  Uzbekistan 2 2 
			  Venezuela 2 2 
			  West Indies Associated States 133 130 
			  Yemen 1 1 
			  Zaire (now Congo) 1 1 
			  Zambia 30 30 
			 
			 Unknown Country of Qualification (medical staff) 204 162 
		
	
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Medical and Dental Workforce Census
	Notes:
	(1)
	Excludes all doctors with a dental specialty. Information about country of qualification is derived from the General Medical Council. For staff in dental specialties, with a General Dental Council registration, the country of qualification is therefore not known.

NHS: Liverpool Care Pathway

The Lord Bishop of Bristol: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that quality statement six (holistic support—spiritual and religious) of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s 2011 quality standard for end of life care for adults is embedded in the end of life care proposals to replace the Liverpool Care Pathway.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Healthcare Chaplaincy is considered a “specialist service”, as referred to in recommendation 22 of the Independent Review of the Liverpool Care Pathway.

Earl Howe: The Government’s intention is for the Liverpool Care Pathway to be phased out over the next 6-12 months in favour of an individual approach to end of life care for each patient, with a personalised care plan backed up by condition-specific guidance and a named senior clinician responsible for its implementation.
	Spiritual and religious support is an essential part of first-class end of life care. However we have yet to set out the specific responses to the Independent Review's recommendations. Over the coming weeks, the Department will be working with partner organisations, stakeholders and charities across health and care to inform a full system-wide response to the Review's recommendations later in the autumn.

Nigeria

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that 20 Nigerians in Bama and Damasak have been killed by members of Boko Haram; and what discussions they have had with the Government of Nigeria about the role of Boko Haram following the United Kingdom’s decision to proscribe that organisation.

Baroness Warsi: The British Government condemn these attacks which targeted members of the Civilian Joint Task Force in Nigeria. This is the latest in a series of attacks on the Civilian Joint Task Force which is working with the Nigerian Security Forces to help protect communities from the terrorist threat posed by Boko Haram.
	Following the decision to proscribe Boko Haram in the UK, the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs wrote to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) expressing his Government’s gratitude for our decision and confirming their appreciation for our support in tackling the challenges posed by terrorism.

Philippines

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the International Young Democrat Union’s statement in August 2013 regarding the negotiations between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Baroness Warsi: It is positive that the International Young Democrat Union (IYDU) is taking an interest in negotiations between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). People
	under the age of 40, about 65% of the Philippines population, have lived with this bloody and painful conflict their whole lives. With last year’s Framework Peace agreement, we can share the hope of the IYDU that today’s Filipino youth will be the generation that sees Mindanao flourish in peace and security along with the rest of the country.
	The UK has provided support to efforts to resolve the conflict through our work in the International Contact Group (ICG) and we were therefore able to bear witness to the courage and commitment of President Aquino and the Chairman of the MILF, Al Haj Murad. As the two sides move beyond negotiation and begin work on implementing the agreement the UK will continue to offer support based on our own experiences of conflict resolution and of the nature of devolution in the UK.

Royal Family: Travel

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Duke of York travelled to Jeddah by charter flight, rather than scheduled service, on 19-20 June 2012 to present condolences on the death of Crown Prince Nayef; and how many people accompanied him on that visit.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government which members of the Royal Family are entitled to publicly funded transport on official duties, and who authorises such expenditure.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they take to reduce the use of travel by helicopter by the Royal Family, in view of the costs incurred.

Lord Deighton: It is for Her Majesty The Queen to decide which members of the Royal Family receive support from the Sovereign Grant to meet travel costs. The grant in aid for royal travel was incorporated into the Sovereign Grant with effect from 1 April 2012.
	The Royal Household makes decisions on its travel arrangements in line with the explanation on page 11 of the Report and Accounts 2012-13:1
	“The Sovereign Grant meets the cost of official journeys undertaken by or in support of members of the Royal Family. Travel by The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall between residences is categorized as official.
	Safety, security, presentation, the need to minimise disruption for others, the effective use of time, environmental impact and cost are taken into account when deciding on the most appropriate means of travel. Staff may travel with members of the Royal Family or separately (e.g. to undertake reconnaissance visits or to arrive in advance).
	The programme of overseas tours is determined by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and approved by the Royal Visits Committee according to agreed priorities.
	The Royal Visits Committee is a Cabinet Committee, chaired by the Permanent Under Secretary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and comprising the Private Secretaries to The Queen, The Prince of Wales and the Prime Minister, the Keeper of the Privy Purse, the Chief Executive of UKTI and the Director of Protocol, Foreign and Commonwealth Office”.
	In deciding the most appropriate mode of travel for official travel, the household considers: safety, security, value for money, length of journey, minimizing the disruption to others, effective use of the Royal Family's time, environmental impact and transport consistent with the requirement and dignity of the occasion.
	The Accounting Officer has a duty to use the Sovereign Grant economically and efficiently. The Household has discretion in how it uses these funds within the Royal Household Framework Agreement document agreed with the Treasury.2
	http://www.royal.gov.uk/pdf/financial%20reports%202012-13/sovereign%20grant%202012-13%20-%20web.pdf
	http://www.royal.gov.uk/pdf/Sovereign%20Grant/Sovereign%20grant%20framework%20agreement%20-% 20final%20for%20website.pdf

South Sudan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people they estimate are now refugees or displaced people in South Sudan; and what are the current humanitarian priorities identified to assist and help them.

Baroness Northover: Based on figures from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), there are approximately 222,000 (as of 25 August) refugees and 70,120 (as of 15 August) displaced people in total across South Sudan. This figure reflects people who have been accessed and assisted only. Due to access constraints, this figure under-represents the actual number of people displaced by violence in the country.
	Our priority is to ensure the provision of life-saving humanitarian assistance and protection, and to press all parties to make every effort to ensure people have freedom of movement, and opportunities for safe and voluntary return to their homes. We continue to call on all armed groups to refrain from violence, in particular against civilians, in order to allow people to live in safety and security and access their homes, livelihoods and assistance.

Syria

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest assessment of the attack that occurred in the suburbs of Western and Eastern Ghouta, Damascus, on 21 August, including (1) the nature of the weapons used, (2) the number of people affected, and (3) the steps being taken to identify the perpetrators.

Baroness Warsi: Multiple streams of intelligence indicate that the regime executed a chemical weapons attack against Damascus suburbs, using rockets, in the early hours of 21 August. Satellite detections indicate that rockets were launched from regime controlled territory early in the morning, approximately 90 minutes before the first report of a chemical attack appeared in social media. The lack of flight activity or missile launches leads us to conclude that the regime used rockets in the attack.
	As a result, there is little serious dispute that chemical attacks causing mass casualties on a larger scale than hitherto (including, we judge, at least 350 fatalities) took place. The number of people affected is hard to verify but we believe it is between 1,188 and 3,600, which includes women and children.
	UK, US and French intelligence assessments make clear that the regime was responsible for the attack. A UN investigation team collected samples from the incident area between 26-29 August. The UN team are expected to report their findings in the next two to three weeks, although the UN team does not have the mandate to establish who was responsible.
	Our focus now is on making the case internationally for a robust response to the use of chemical weapons by the regime, and on bringing all sides together to achieve the political solution that is needed to end the conflict.

Turkey

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the trial process that led to the sentences given to opposition sitting MPs, journalists and retired military officers at Silvri Court, near Istanbul, on 5 August.

Baroness Warsi: The Turkish authorities did not permit international observers into the courtroom. We have, however, noted the concern in Turkey about the trial and would expect some of those convicted to appeal their sentences.
	We and our EU partners will continue to raise our concerns about the judicial process and wider human rights issues with the Turkish Government as part our regular dialogue, including on the EU accession process. We expect the EU’s assessment to be reflected in the Commission’s 2013 Annual Progress Report on Turkey which is due next month.

Turkey

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 29 August (HL1960), whether they will now ask the Turkish authorities for the number of journalists detained in that country; and, if not, why not.

Baroness Warsi: The Government are concerned about the limits to freedom of expression in Turkey, including reports of high numbers of imprisoned journalists. In January 2013, the Turkish Minister of Justice publicly stated that no journalists were being held in Turkish prisons for expressing an opinion, and that only those who had committed criminal offences were being held. We raised the matter again with the Turkish authorities this week. We, and our EU partners, will continue to raise human rights as part of our broader dialogue with Turkey.

Universal Credit: Costs

Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the projected costs of the implementation of Universal Credit across the United Kingdom when their programme for implementation was first published; and how have the projected costs changed since that date.

Lord Freud: The projected costs for the implementation of Universal Credit were £2 billion across the SR10 years (2011/12-2014/15) when the programme was first published. The programme continues to forecast that expenditure will remain within this budget.

Universal Credit: Timetable

Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the timetable for the implementation of the universal credit across the United Kingdom when their programme for implementation was first published; and what changes have been made to the timetable since that date.

Lord Freud: The Universal Credit (UC) Programme has always planned to complete the transition to UC by 2017, and this plan remains unchanged.
	Following the successful launch of UC Pathfinder in April 2013, I set out (10th July) the plans for the further expansion and roll out of UC from October 2013.
	This careful and controlled approach to implementation is the right approach to manage such complex and large-scale change. We will outline the longer term plans for UC implementation in the autumn.

War Memorials

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 6 August (HL1880) stating that the Royal Navy Division Memorial Charity owns the memorial on Horse Guards Parade, whether the charity still exists; whether the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible for the maintenance of the memorial; and whether the water is running every day.

Lord Astor of Hever: The cost of maintaining the fabric of the memorial is the responsibility of the Royal Navy Division Memorial Charity (No.262717), and it is administered by the Royal Marines Corps Secretary on behalf of the Commandant General of the Royal Marines. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible for the water supply which runs every day except when there is a fault or a requirement to temporarily suspend the flow. Recently the water supply was turned off for one to two days while maintenance was carried out. Maintenance takes place approximately every six months. The water supply is currently on.

Armed Forces: Reserve Forces

Lord Chidgey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for addressing any shortfall in recruitment of army reservists intended to cover the reduction in regular troop numbers through planned redundancies.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of any shortfalls in recruitment of trained British Army Reservists on the United Kingdom’s ability to meet its global defence commitments.

Lord Astor of Hever: The Army is working hard to ensure that the target of recruiting 30,000 trained reservists by 2018 is achieved. A number of measures have been put in place to address the challenges, including:
	The launch of an Army Reserve marketing campaign including re-branding the Army to make it clear that it is an integrated regular and reserve force. Other campaigns will follow.The deployment of nearly 900 regular troops to reinforce the regional recruiting operations and employer engagement activities and reinforcing the manpower in the National Recruiting Centre (NRC) to accommodate the expected increase in demand.Strengthening links between the NRC and Army Reserve units.
	Simplifying the transfer process for Regular to Army Reserve, reinforced with financial incentives and actively marketing the Army Reserves to service leavers.A reduction in the time taken to complete Phase 2 training.A review of the online medical screening processes.A much closer working relationship with employers.Exploring the greater use of sponsored reserves.
	The Chief of the General Staff and his team assess the configuration of the Army set out in Army 2020 so it will deliver the level of capability agreed in the Strategic Defence and Security Review of October 2010.

Bank of England

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have sought the views of the new Governor of the Bank of England or the Financial Policy Committee on the impact of their housing finance policies and proposals on house prices and financial stability.

Lord Deighton: The Government has a regular dialogue with the Bank of England on a range of issues relating to financial stability.
	The Government has established the independent Financial Policy Committee (FPC) to monitor the stability of the financial system as a whole with a view to ensuring that emerging risks and vulnerabilities are identified and effectively addressed. Consistent with this mandate, the Government has stated that, should a Chancellor wish to extend the Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme in the future, they will ask the FPC to make an assessment of the impact of the scheme on financial stability. The Government is working with the FPC to finalise the details of how this mechanism will work.
	The new Governor of the Bank of England addressed the issue of the housing market specifically in a speech on the 28 August1. In that speech he noted that mortgage approvals and transactions are still well below pre-crisis levels and current house prices in line with those in 2003 relative to earnings.
	1
	http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/publications/Pages/ speeches/2013/675.aspx

Bank of England

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the initial success of the Bank of England’s policy of forward guidance; and what role market rates of interest and the Sterling exchange rate play in that assessment.

Lord Deighton: The independent Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) macroeconomic policy tools, including the deployment of forward guidance, are designed to affect the economy as a whole, in order to meet the 2 per cent inflation target over the medium term.
	As set out in their August 2013 assessment, the MPC has judged that in these exceptional circumstances, explicit forward guidance can enhance the effectiveness
	of monetary stimulus, in part by reducing uncertainty about the future path of monetary policy as the economy recovers. In particular, it increases public understanding of the conditions under which the highly stimulative stance of monetary policy will be maintained.
	Speaking on 24 August 2013, Charlie Bean, Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, noted that:
	“Short-term yields have moved up since our announcement on a string of good news about the economy, but the unemployment threshold, by serving as a reminder of just how much growth is needed to regain lost ground, should temper the extent of any tightening.”

Banks: Misselling Products and Services

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to take any regulatory action in connection with current directors and executives of United Kingdom banks who held board or senior positions at banks subsequently found to have been involved in misselling.

Lord Deighton: The Financial Conduct Authority is responsible for taking action under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) against bank directors or executives for misselling of financial products.
	The Government set out its plans for measures to strengthen the framework in FSMA for ensuring the accountability of bank directors and executives in its response to the final report of the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards, which was presented to Parliament as a Command Paper (Cm 8661) on 8 July 2013. The legislation to implement the measures will be included in amendments to the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Bill.

Banks: Misselling Products and Services

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will commission an independent review into the social and economic impact, including cross-subsidisation of higher wealth owners by poorer ones, of banks promoting or misselling retail products and services, and the incentive for banks to do so.

Lord Deighton: The Government has no plans to commission an independent review. The Government has been clear that the misselling of financial products is wrong. That is why, through the Financial Services Act 2012, the Government has set out its policies to strengthen the financial regulatory structure. As a focused conduct of business regulator, the FCA has, as its core purpose, protecting and enhancing consumers’ confidence in financial services. The FCA is not prepared to see consumer detriment occur, taking a more proactive, interventionist approach to retail conduct regulation.

Church of England

Lord Trefgarne: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their involvement in the procedure for appointing Church of England bishops to dioceses within the United Kingdom.

Lord Newby: The Prime Minister submits to The Queen nominations for diocesan and suffragan bishops in England made respectively by the Crown Nominations Commission and the relevant diocesan bishop. The Prime Minister is represented on the Commission by his appointments secretary, who is a non-voting member. The Government is not involved in the appointment of bishops in other parts of the United Kingdom.

Defence Agreements

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish a list of the United Kingdom’s defence agreements indicating which of them are published in full, and stating the criteria used in deciding not to publish the others.

Lord Astor of Hever: No formal distinction is made between treaties and agreements, which are both regarded as legally binding under international law. In common with other international treaties, the texts of bilateral defence treaties are routinely published and laid before Parliament as Command Papers once they have entered into force for the United Kingdom. Treaties that require ratification are additionally laid before Parliament for scrutiny under Part 2 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (which replaced the earlier non-statutory “Ponsonby Rule”). Records of all treaties signed and/or ratified by the United Kingdom are maintained by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, details of which can be found at: http://treaties.fco.gov.uk/treaties/treaty.htm on the gov.uk website. Original signed treaties binding on the United Kingdom are held in the National Archives.

Defence: Sharing Defence Spectrum

Lord Clement-Jones: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration the Ministry of Defence has given to the possibility of releasing and sharing its access to 1427–1452 MHz spectrum with programme-making and special events users, and what assessment they have made of the impact that would have.

Lord Astor of Hever: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is conducting technical assessments in several military frequency bands to consider the feasibility
	of sharing access with other users. 1427–1452 MHz is one of the bands to be investigated in due course. Until this technical assessment is complete no decision can be made on whether the band can be shared, what technology is compatible and under what terms sharing can be accomplished. The MOD will release a statement once the technical co-existence study on the 1427–1452 MHz band has been completed.

Energy: Biofuels

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what further action they plan to take to support the production of biofuels from used cooking oil.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the quantity of biofuels made from virgin oil used in the United Kingdom.

Earl Attlee: We amended the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) in December 2011 to provide extra support to biofuels made from waste feedstocks, including used cooking oil, by awarding two Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFCs) per litre.
	We are currently assessing the available data and other evidence regarding the impact of these and other changes made to the RTFO in a post implementation review. We will shortly be asking suppliers to input to that review, including providing views on the effectiveness of double counting biofuels made from waste.
	The latest statistics for year 5 of the obligation (15 April 2012 to 14 April 2013) provide the volume of sustainable biofuel supplied by feedstock and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/226038/rtfo-2012-13-year_5-report-4.xls. This provisional data suggests that around 2% of biofuel supplied under the RTFO was made from virgin oils.

Financial Conduct Authority

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the technical competence of the Financial Conduct Authority in understanding algorithmic strategies.

Lord Deighton: The Financial Conduct Authority has been at the forefront of the international regulatory debate on algorithmic trading. As outlined in written evidence to the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards (December 2012), the FCA has undertaken extensive work on highly automated trading firms in recent years. The FCA has also been actively involved in the development of UK policy in relation to the new regulatory framework for algorithmic trading which forms part of the revision of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, currently under negotiation.

Georgia

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the statement in August 2013 by the International Young Democrat Union on recent political developments in Georgia.

Baroness Warsi: The Government is aware of the statement made by the International Young Democrat Union.
	There have been reports of violence between supporters of the ruling and opposition parties in the municipalities of Georgia. We condemn the violence which occurred in Tbilisi on 17 May 2013, and joined EU partners in issuing a statement to this effect on 20 May 2013. We have also underlined to the Georgian government the need to ensure that all prosecutions are transparent, evidence-based, and follow the rule of law.
	In our contacts with both sides, we continue to encourage the parties to co-operate during the current political cohabitation, and to facilitate the conduct of free and fair presidential elections in October. Our embassy in Tbilisi will be observing the presidential elections, which take place on 27 October 2013.

Housing

Baroness Quin: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many tenants in social housing for each local authority in the United Kingdom have been reported, since 1 April, to be in rent arrears for the first time; and what proportion of those are subject to the under-occupancy charge.

Baroness Hanham: Statistics are published annually on the total value of local authority social housing rent arrears, and were most recently published on my Department’s website for 2011-12: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/73210/lahs-data-returns-for-2011-12.xls (Tab H of the spreadsheet).
	Data for 2012-13 will be available at the end of this year.
	The 2012 Global Accounts of Housing Providers, published by the social housing regulator in March 2013, show that current private registered providers’ tenant arrears at the end of the 2011-12 financial year were 4.8% in England. This is an improvement in performance on arrears compared to 2010-11, when they were 5.1%. The overall financial performance of the sector has also improved compared to the year before. The regulator will publish the Global Accounts for 2012-13 in spring 2014.
	The Department does not collect official statistics on how many social housing tenants were in arrears for the first time nor on any notional sub-classification based on welfare reform.

Ian Brady

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the total legal costs incurred by the National Health Service in connection with the Mental Health Tribunal for Ian Brady.

Earl Howe: The Mental Health Tribunal is part of the legal system and patients detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 are entitled to one at least every three years. Patients are entitled to legal representation. The trust is also legally represented.
	The total legal costs incurred by Mersey Care NHS Trust in connection with the Mental Health Tribunal for Ian Brady amounted to £181,699.75.
	All decisions around the procurement of legal advice are made by Mersey Care NHS Trust.

Ian Brady

Lord Campbell-Savours: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total cost of the legal aid fees in connection with the Mental Health Tribunal for Ian Brady.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government which legal firms received payments from public funds in connection with the Mental Health Tribunal for Ian Brady; and how much each received.

Lord McNally: Two firms of solicitors have represented Mr Ian Brady leading up to and during his Mental Health Tribunal hearing earlier this year. Initially, his case was handled by RMNJ Solicitors, but was subsequently taken over by Scott-Moncrieff and Associates Ltd.
	The Legal Aid Agency has only received a bill from RMNJ Solicitors. The total amount paid to this firm was £92,363 (inclusive of VAT), which includes payments to experts and counsel. Scott-Moncrieff and Associates Ltd have yet to submit their bill in this matter.
	The LAA is legally bound to cover the costs of legal aid for eligible cases. The funding for Mr Brady’s tribunal was managed by a specialist team within the LAA, who were best placed to ensure that costs in this case were carefully controlled.

Judicial Review

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the proposal in the Ministry of Justice consultation outlining the necessity of granted permission for judicial review applications will ensure the accountability of public bodies.

Lord Newby: The Government has carefully considered the responses to the consultation Transforming Legal Aid: Delivering AMore Credible And Efficient System and has published the response Transforming Legal Aid: Next Steps, available at: https://consult.justice.gov. uk/digital-communications/transforming-legal-aid-next-steps.
	We remain of the view that taxpayers should not be expected to pay the legal bills for a significant number of weak judicial review cases which are not permitted by the court to proceed at the permission stage. This doesn’t just cost the legal aid fund, it also means more costs for the courts in considering applications and for public authorities in defending proceedings.
	However, the Government has listened to concerns raised by a number of respondents who argued that the original proposal not only targets weak judicial review cases but would also unfairly affect meritorious cases where permission is not granted simply because the case concludes prior to consideration by the court. The revised proposal seeks to address this concern.
	We are therefore consulting on a further proposal in which providers would not be paid unless granted permission, subject to discretionary payment in certain cases which conclude prior to a permission decision without a costs order or agreement. We continue to believe that it is important to make legal aid available for most judicial review cases, to ensure access to a mechanism which enables persons to challenge and hold to account decisions made by public authorities which affect them. Legal aid will remain available to enable such challenges under our proposals.
	The further proposal is set out in a separate consultation paper on judicial review available at: https://consult. justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/judicial-review.

Local Government: Procurement

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the procurement processes in local government and the value for money that such processes deliver.

Baroness Hanham: Some councils have made significant progress in simplifying their processes and reducing disproportionate qualification criteria from their tenders. But many councils are still adopting overly bureaucratic procurement processes.
	My department is working with the department of Business, Innovation and Skills, the Cabinet Office and the Local Government Association to look at what more councils can do to get best value from their procurement of construction projects. We will shortly be undertaking a significant consultation on procurement reforms across the whole public sector, which follows on from Lord Young’s report, Growing Your Business, to simplify and standardise the bidding, payment and advertising of contracts, and remove the complexity, cost and inconsistency of public sector procurement processes.

Migration Watch UK

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions (1) the Home Secretary, (2) the Minister of State for Immigration, (3) the Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice, (4) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Crime and Security,
	(5) the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Criminal Information, (6) the Minister of State for Crime Prevention, and (7) any of the above Ministers’ advisers or officials, have met representatives of Migration Watch UK to date, since May 2010.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations and individuals are passed to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis and are subsequently published on the Cabinet Office website which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministers-hospitality-gifts-travel-and-meetings-2012-2013.

NHS: General Practitioners

Lord Sharkey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what mechanisms are in place to ensure that general practitioners are aware of developments in medical treatments and medical science; and what measures there are of the levels of such awareness.

Earl Howe: Medical revalidation, which commenced in December 2012, requires all doctors with a licence to practise medicine in the United Kingdom to provide evidence, through their annual appraisals, of how they have kept their knowledge and skills up to date, including the latest techniques, technologies and research.
	General practitioners (GPs) have to demonstrate that they are actively maintaining their skills through continual professional development and are aware of new clinical guidelines which are regularly published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and disseminated to GPs.

Nutrition: Health Food Products

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have investigated (1) the method by which the products of Herbal Life are sold in the United Kingdom, and (2) the manufacturing standards and safety of Herbal Life products; and whether they have had any communication with overseas regulators or authorities on those matters.

Earl Howe: Methods of selling products to consumers are regulated under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. The Regulations are not enforced by central Government and any investigation into sales practices would be for the appropriate enforcement
	authorities; local authority Trading Standards Officers and the Office of Fair Trading. The Office of Fair Trading has confirmed that it has not investigated these sales practices.
	Similarly, any investigation of this company or its activities in the United Kingdom in relation to the manufacturing or safety of its products would be carried out under food law by local authority Trading Standards and Environmental Health officers. The Government has not had any communication with overseas regulators or authorities on this matter. Local authorities liaise with other enforcement bodies and international counterparts as appropriate.

Overseas Aid

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of United Kingdom overseas aid they estimate is diverted from its intended purpose due to corruption.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of United Kingdom overseas aid they consider not to have a sufficient audit trail leading to its intended final use.

Baroness Northover: DFID has strong systems and processes in place to ensure that its aid reaches those for whom it was intended and that the risk of losses through fraud, corruption or other misappropriation is minimised or mitigated. These processes include Fiduciary Risk Assessments and other due diligence requirements. DFID will not provide financial support unless it is satisfied that any risks have been identified and appropriate safeguards put in place. Any allegations of loss are rigorously investigated and recovery of proven losses pursued. Net losses are published in our annual accounts; the latest accounts published for 2012-13 showed losses of £1.2 million on a total budget of £7.9 billion.

Prisoners: Women

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many women prisoners are currently held in segregation units.

Lord Newby: Responsibility for the use, management and monitoring of segregation and data on segregation is primarily a matter for the Governor of the prison with routine oversight of segregation procedures provided by the Independent Monitoring Board for the prison and external scrutiny by Ministry of Justice audit and HM Inspectorate of Prisons. For this reason the information requested is not collected centrally on a routine basis.
	However, officials will contact individual establishments in the female prison estate in order to obtain this information and I will write when these enquiries have been completed.

Railways: Public Funds

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, for each of the last five years, what proportion of the costs of running the railway in the United Kingdom is provided by public funds; and what figures they forecast for each of the next five years.

Lord Newby: Details of historic funding for the railway are published annually by the Office of Rail Regulation on their data portal which can be viewed on their website at: http://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/ browsereports/1.
	Public funding for the railway for the next 5 years was set out in the Government’s High Level Output Specification Statement which was published in July 2012. This can be viewed on the .gov.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-level-output-specification-2012.

Royal Navy: Ships

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 5 August (HL1935), how many (1) aircraft carriers, (2) destroyers, (3) frigates, (4) mine countermeasure vessels, (5) survey ships, (6) landing ships, and (7) Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers, they have withdrawn from service since 2010; and how many (a) Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers, and (b) 45-foot patrol craft, they have ordered since 2010.

Lord Astor of Hever: I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave him on 5 August 2013 (Official Report, col. WA334). Over the same period, four Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers and six 15-metre police boats have been ordered. Planning and design work is in advanced stages for the new Type 26 global combat ship.

Royal Navy: Ships

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 5 August (HL1936), whether the three River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels they have purchased are the same vessels the Royal Navy previously operated under lease.

Lord Astor of Hever: I can confirm that the three River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels purchased in 2012, HMS Tyne, Severn and Mersey, are the same vessels previously operated under lease by the Royal Navy.

Sudan and South Sudan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in (1) implementing agreements between Sudan and South Sudan, and (2) the cessation of attacks in Blue Nile and South Kordofan and unrest in Jonglei, following the United Nations Security Council statement on 23 August.

Baroness Warsi: We welcome the meeting that took place between the Presidents of Sudan and South Sudan in Khartoum on 3 September, during which they renewed their commitment to implement all outstanding agreements between them. This was a welcome response to the statement by the President of the United Nations Security Council on 23 August, as well as the efforts of the African Union to encourage progress on the agreements. We will continue to monitor progress closely, and to encourage both governments to fulfil their commitments, as well as to resolve outstanding disputes not covered by the agreements.
	We also welcome the recent announcement by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North of a unilateral ceasefire in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states. We have seen reports that representatives of the Government of Sudan may also have welcomed the ceasefire. We will be urging both sides to follow through these signals with action to achieve a lasting cessation of hostilities, and to use this as a basis for ensuring full humanitarian access to both states and for beginning negotiations on a political resolution.
	We are concerned at the humanitarian impact of the conflict in Jonglei state in South Sudan, where large numbers of civilians have been displaced and have not been accessible for assistance. The British Ambassador has recently visited Jonglei with other international representatives, and has been in close touch with the South Sudanese authorities to ensure that full humanitarian access is granted, and that those responsible for any abuses against civilians are held accountable.

Terrorism

Lord Hollick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many of the persons detained in 2012–13 under Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 were determined, following their detention, to be involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorism.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: In his annual report published in July 2013, the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, David Anderson QC reported that 670 people were detained under Schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 in 2012-13. Absolute numbers of those people determined to be involved in terrorism,
	or not involved, are unavailable. Those conclusive determinations may not be made for some time as terrorism investigations are typically long-running, and draw on a wide range of information including information derived from examinations under Schedule 7.

Terrorism: Stop and Search

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the proportion of Black and Asian people stopped and searched under stop and search powers compared with that of other ethnicities, and of the reasons for any differences in the figures.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Statistics in relation to the use of stop and search powers are published annually; the most recent were included in Police Powers and Procedures England and Wales 2011/12, which is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications /police-powers-and-procedures-in-england-and-wales-201112/police-powers-and-procedures-in-england-and-wales-2011-12.
	These statistics show that, based on the self-classification of those who were stopped and searched under Section 1 of the Police and Criminal Justice Act 1984 in 2011-12, 14 per cent were Black and 10 per cent were Asian. In the same period, of those stopped and searched under Section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, 36 per cent were Black and 17 per cent were Asian. In 2011-12, no searches were conducted under Section 47a of the Terrorism Act 2000.
	These figures indicate that Black and Asian people are over-represented in stops and searches, as against the proportion of Black and Asian people in the population of England and Wales. The Government is currently consulting publicly on the use of stop and search powers. Part of the aim of the consultation, alongside a recent inspection of stop and search powers by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, is to understand better the public experience of the use of these powers, and to gain public views on how the police should deploy and account for their use. The consultation ends on 24th September.

Turkey and Syria

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the position of the Armenian Christian churches in Turkey and Syria.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: All Syrians are suffering greatly as the situation continues to deteriorate, and Christians are no exception. Syria’s Christians are said to number around 2.5 million (11 per cent) of
	the population, although this figure has probably been reduced by pre-uprising emigration and recent displacement. The largest Christian communities in the country were in Aleppo and Homs, cities which have seen some of the most intense clashes between the regime and opposition. We regularly meet with representatives of minority groups, including a number of Christian religious leaders, and they have been similarly affected by the wider implications of the conflict; internal displacement, lack of security, seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. Using UK Conflict Pool funding, we are working with civil society organisations in Syria and the wider region to support inter-faith dialogue and tolerance.
	We have expressed our strong concern over a number of reports of the kidnapping and killing of clergymen inside Syria. The most high-profile example to date has been the kidnap of Bishops of Aleppo, Boulus Yazigi and Yuhanna Ibrahim. However, it is not clear that they were abducted on the basis of their religion.
	The regime’s actions continue to undermine the stability and security of Syria and therefore endanger all Syria’s citizens, including Christians and other religious minorities. We welcome the statements made by the Syrian National Coalition leadership in November, and reiterated since, that it is committed to a future in Syria in which there is a place for all Syrians regardless of ethnicity or religious belief.
	The European Commission’s 2012 annual progress report on Turkey’s accession to the EU highlighted that the Armenian Christian community continued to face difficulties, particularly with training of clergy and public anti-Armenian sentiment. However, we welcomed, in September 2012, the third religious service since 1915 to be held at the Armenian Holy Cross Church on the Akdamar island in lake Van; and the granting of foundations status to the Armenian Tibrevank Lycée in Istanbul.
	Along with the EU Commission and others, we strongly encourage Turkey to maintain efforts to strengthen freedoms for all religious minorities in Turkey including the Armenian Christians, in line with Turkey’s commitments as an EU candidate country and a member of the Council of Europe.

Vehicles: Diesel Particulate Filters

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many vehicles operating in the United Kingdom they estimate have had their factory-fitted diesel particulate filters removed.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to warn vehicle owners of any legal consequences resulting from the operation of vehicles from which factory-fitted diesel particulate filters have been removed.

Lord Newby: Diesel particulate filters are inspected visually at the annual MoT. Removal of the diesel particulate filter might trigger the vehicle’s Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) and the MoT tester would bring
	this to the attention of the owner but the vehicle would not fail the MoT test. Also, if the visual inspection indicated that the filter was missing, the tester would inform the owner, but again the vehicle would not fail the MoT test unless it failed the emissions test. However, the Department for Transport does not record information on the number of filters that have been removed from vehicles.
	The Department does not currently provide information or advice to vehicle owners of any legal implications of removing these filters. However, Departmental officials are working on a guidance note that aims to provide vehicle owners with relevant information on the consequences of removing the filters. Nevertheless, officials will give appropriate advice either verbally or in writing when questions arise.

Banks: Co-operative Bank

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ensure that the independent advice given to holders of bonds and other non-primary equity issued by the Co-operative Bank in connection with that Bank’s recapitalisation evaluates all alternatives and is not limited to considering only the proposal put forward by the board of the Bank and its shareholder.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have sought and received commitments of future capital support from (1) National Australia Bank in respect of the Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks, and (2) the Co-operative Group in respect of Co-operative Bank; and whether those organisations meet the test of being fit and proper in respect of their actions as bank controllers.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether all deposits with Co-operative Bank are guaranteed as to principal and interest.
	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have considered covering all deposits with the Co-operative Bank by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme for so long as is necessary for the Co-operative Bank to be recapitalised by its owner and retained earnings, as an alternative to seeking capital from its bondholders.

Lord Deighton: The Co-operative Bank has stated that it is considering how to facilitate the provision of independent financial advice to retail holders in respect of its current liability management exercise (LME) at the bank's cost. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is monitoring the bank closely throughout the LME process, working to ensure that consumers are afforded an appropriate degree of protection.
	The provision of capital support for a UK regulated bank by its parent company, and the assessment of the fitness and propriety of individuals who exercise significant
	influence on the conduct of an authorised person's affairs as it relates to a regulated activity, are matters for the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and FCA.
	Provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 prevent both the PRA and the FCA from disclosing confidential information about a regulated person, which would include discussions with a parent company in respect of capital support.
	Both the PRA and FCA have set out the position in respect of the assessment of Directors of the Co-operative Group, in letters to the Noble Lord dated 6 August 2013 and 13 August 2013, copies of which are available in the library of the House. I have passed the question in respect of National Australia Bank on to the PRA and FCA, who will reply to the Noble Lord directly by letter. A copy of the responses from the PRA and the FCA will also be placed in the Library of the House.
	Under the Deposit Guarantee Schemes Directive (DGSD), the UK's Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) is required to cover eligible deposits up to the harmonized coverage level of £85,000 (or 100,000 Euros) per depositor. The scheme guarantees those deposits up to the point when a bank is declared in default, and includes any interest owed as part of the compensation amount up to that point.
	All eligible deposits in the Co-operative Bank are covered by the FSCS on this basis. The DGSD does not allow the FSCS to cover deposits over and above the prescribed amount. Further information on FSCS protection can be found on their website (www.fscs.org.uk).

Debt

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the total amounts of (1) private, and (2) public, debt currently outstanding in the economy; what were those figures at the end of financial year 2009-10; and whether the current figures are consistent with their economic strategy.

Lord Deighton: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for estimates of United Kingdom private sector gross debt, which they publish on a quarterly basis. In the first quarter of 2013, private sector gross debt stood at £27.1 trillion (1,722 per cent of GDP). In the first quarter of 2010, private sector gross debt was £25.9 trillion (1,805 per cent of GDP). The ONS July Public Sector Finances release showed public sector net debt stood at £1,193.4 billion (74.5 per cent of GDP) at the end of July this year. At the end of 2009-10, public sector net debt was £828.3 billion (56.4 per cent of GDP).
	The UK economy is recovering from the most damaging financial crisis in generations after a decade of growth built on unsustainable debt. The Government remains committed to restoring debt to a sustainable, downward path. Although public sector net debt will continue to rise in the short term, in its March 2013 Economic and fiscal outlook, the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast that public sector net debt will fall as a share of GDP in 2017-18.

Habitual Residence Test

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the proposed residence test envisaged by the Ministry of Justice consultation will impact upon the attainment of legal redress by non-residents in challenging Government action.

Lord McNally: The Government has carefully considered the responses to the consultation “Transforming Legal Aid: Delivering a more credible and efficient system” and has published the response “Transforming Legal Aid: Next Steps” available at:
	https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/transforming-legal-aid-next-steps
	We continue to believe that individuals should in principle have a strong connection to the UK in order to benefit from the civil legal aid scheme and that the residence test we have proposed is a fair and appropriate way to demonstrate that connection.
	We are therefore proceeding with our proposal that applicants for civil legal aid will need to be lawfully resident in the UK, Crown Dependencies or British Overseas Territories at the time they apply and have resided there lawfully for at least 12 months in the past. The test will not apply to serving members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces and their immediate families, or to asylum seekers.
	We will also provide that applicants for civil legal aid on certain matters of law will not be required to meet the residence test. These broadly relate to the individual's liberty, such as challenges to the lawfulness of detention, where the individual is particularly vulnerable or where the case relates to the protection of children.
	Anybody excluded from civil legal aid as a result of the residence test in the future would be entitled to apply for exceptional funding, including in respect of services described in Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 from which the individual has been excluded as a result of the residence test.

Homelessness: Rough Sleepers

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the most recent numbers by (1) age, and (2) nationality (including stateless people), of rough sleepers and homeless people in (a) constituent countries, and (b) regions, of the United Kingdom.

Baroness Hanham: Figures for total numbers of households accepted by English local authorities as being owed the main homelessness duty under homelessness legislation are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessness. In particular:
	• Live Table 781 gives a breakdown by age of applicant; and
	• Live Table 785 gives a breakdown by nationality of Foreign National acceptances.
	The most recent available figures are for Q2 (April to June) 2013, which were published on 5 September.
	The rough sleeping counts and estimates that the Department publishes for each English local authority area do not include any breakdowns by age or nationality. The Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) - maintained by Broadway, a London-based homeless charity - does, however, collect and publish information about people seen by outreach teams and those who have accessed accommodation for rough sleepers in London. Information on the nationality of rough sleepers in London in 2011- 12 is summarised in the Department's latest Rough Sleeping statistical release at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rough-sleeping-in-england-autumn-2012. Other figures from CHAIN — including breakdowns by age - are published at:
	http://www.broadwaylondon.org/CHAIN/Reports/StreettoHomeReports.html.
	As outlined in the Written Ministerial Statement of 18 September 2012, Official Report, Column 32WS, my Department no longer publishes statistics by government office region.
	I have placed two tables in the Library giving English local authority figures for Q2 2013 for homelessness acceptances broken down by the age of applicant and by the nationality of Foreign Nationals.
	Rough sleeping counts and estimates for Autumn 2012 for individual English local authorities are available at
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdataffile/73201/ Rough_sleeping_table_l.xls .
	Figures for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are a matter for the relevant devolved administration, although web-links to their published homelessness figures are given on pages 16 and 17 of the latest English Statutory Homelessness statistical release at https://wvvw.gov.uk/government/publications/statutory-homelessness-in-england-april-to-june-2013; and web-links to published rough sleeping figures for Wales and Scotland are given on page 9 of the latest English Rough Sleeping statistical release https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rough-sleeping-in-england-autumn-2012
	We are investing £470 million going to councils and charities in the current Spending Review (2010/11 to 2014/15) to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping.
	I also refer the noble Lord to my answer of 30 July 2013, Official Report, Column WA285, on steps we are taking to address rough sleeping especially by foreign nationals.

Legal Aid

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of their legal aid reforms on female victims of domestic violence and those from migrant communities who pursue civil remedies, and in particular civil injunctions.

Lord McNally: The Government is committed to supporting victims of domestic violence which is why the reforms to legal aid, contained in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO), provides for victims of domestic violence and forced marriage to remain in scope of funding. My officials are currently holding a series of meetings with representative bodies of domestic violence victims,
	solicitors and those providing evidence to victims to assess the impact of the evidential requirements for private family law cases, including its impact on victims of domestic violence (including such victims from migrant communities).
	In addition, we are monitoring numbers of applications, and types of evidence used, for legal aid in private family law cases although at present the current volume is still reflecting a substantial increase in applications immediately prior to implementation of the reforms in April. We expect to be in a position to make an initial assessment of how the scheme is working by the end of the calendar year, and whether any changes are required to improve its operation.
	Funding for protective injunctions is unchanged under LASPO. There have been 6,057 applications made between 1st April and 8th September. This is a small decrease compared with pre-LASPO volumes. Again, we will be in a better position to assess any impacts by the end of the year.